the Residents of the 41st Assembly District
Helene E. Weinstein
The 2016 Budget and Session resulted in important achievements that will help many New Yorkers. I’ve highlighted some of the most important achievements in this newsletter. I’ve also included information on important community office programs I am sponsoring.
As your Assemblywoman, my most important responsibility is to listen carefully, answer questions and help solve your problems. Along with my experienced community office staff, I can assist you with a variety of important services and help to resolve community problems. Please contact my office if you think I can be of assistance to you.
Halfway House Petitions
to Bragg Street Halfway House
Assemblywoman Weinstein is spearheading an effort to prevent the Federal Bureau of Prisons from establishing a halfway house for federal prisoners, at 2261 Bragg Street – former site of the Beth Aaron Synagogue. Along with Councilman Maisel, Senator Persaud and former Councilman Fidler, Helene Weinstein mobilized a massive response via a community-based campaign of letter writing and petition signatures.
To date, over 2,500 signatures on petitions and letters of opposition have been sent to the Bureau of Prisons stating that the facility “would pose a great disruption” and “drastically alter the character of our neighborhood and the sense of security.”
The Assemblywoman hopes this clear demonstration of opposition from the community and Elected Officials convinces the Federal Bureau of Prisons to reject the ill-conceived proposal for this site. With the Bureau of Prisons likely to make a decision on the halfway house sometime before the end of this year, she is still urging those who have not objected, to register their opposition. Sign Helene Weinstein’s online petition to reject the Bragg Street halfway house by going to:
http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Helene-E-Weinstein/story/67295/.
Assemblywoman Weinstein successfully fought for improvements in the 2016 State Budget, which included tremendous wins for children in public and private schools, a major investment in education to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.
This year’s state budget secured a huge increase in state aid for our public schools – $1.4 billion over last year.
Other highlights of the 2016 State Education Budget include:
- $9.6 billion for New York City Schools, a $524 million increase from 2015
- $807 million in State-wide pre-K investment
- $75 million in grants for struggling schools
- $75 million in grants for state-wide community schools cohosting social and health related services
- Increase in grants for library aid ($4 million) and bilingual education ($1 million) and restores teacher centers ($14.3 million)
- $2.3 million to support a rate increase for 4201 schools for a total of $98.5 million
- $20 million to implement the Federal My Brother’s Keeper initiative to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color.
- To make sure this year’s budget helped all students, including those attending Parochial schools and Yeshivas, the budget provides $174 million for nonpublic schools, $185 million for past due mandated services and CAP reimbursements, $9.5 million for safety improvements, an expansion of after 4pm bus service, and $2 million to establish the State Education Department office of Religious and Independent Schools.
To make sure this year’s budget helped all students, including those attending Parochial schools and Yeshivas, the budget and end of session actions provide:
- $174 million for nonpublic schools
- $60 million - over 2 years - in aid to private schools for past due mandated services
- $9.5 million in grants for safety improvements ($10 million over the next 2 years, plus $4.5 million this year)
- $125 million additional reimbursement CAP
- $4.5 million increase for after 4pm bus service brings the total state allocation for the program to $17.1 million and constitutes a 35% increase in funding over last year
- $2 million to establish the Office of Religious and Independent Schools within the State Education Department
Assemblywoman Weinstein will continue to fight for all schools and teachers, so they can continue to provide a quality education to students throughout New York.
The 2016 Budget includes an additional $200 million for the NYS Water Infrastructure Improvement Act to assist municipalities in funding water quality projects.
As one of only two New York City Legislators this year who earned the highest score from our State’s environmental watchdog organization, EPL Environmental Advocates, Assemblywoman Weinstein takes great pride in having consistently voted in favor of measures addressing the adverse effects of hydraulic fracturing, the quality of our drinking water, and the upkeep of our State’s water and waste systems.
“I pledge continued support and to pursue measures that preserve and protect our natural resources so that future generations can benefit from them as we have,” said Assemblywoman Weinstein.
Assemblywoman Weinstein has long supported voter education initiatives within our community and throughout the state. This year, Assemblywoman Weinstein along with a number of her Assembly Colleagues sponsored legislation that would require the New York City Board of Elections to provide all electoral and voting information (both at the polling site and online) available in English, in Russian (A01361), allowing voters for whom English is a second language, to participate effectively in the electoral process and all voting-connected activities. The Board of Elections already does so for primarily Chinese and Spanish speaking voters.
Assemblywoman Weinstein previously directed legislative funding for the publication of “The Handbook for the Russian American Voter: We Vote,” an educational and informative supplement for bilingual voters to ensure all New Yorkers are able to participate in the electoral process.
Assemblywoman Weinstein has long supported voter education initiatives within our community and throughout the state. This year, Assemblywoman Weinstein along with a number of her Assembly Colleagues sponsored legislation that would require the New York City Board of Elections to provide all electoral and voting information (both at the polling site and online) available in English, in Creole (A9729), allowing voters for whom English is a second language, to participate effectively in the electoral process and all voting-connected activities. The Board of Elections already does so for primarily Chinese and Spanish speaking voters.
Assemblywoman Weinstein’s legislation that forces banks and lenders to maintain “zombie” properties before and during the foreclosure process and minimize the negative effects these vacant homes can have on their communities and city resources has been signed into law by governor Cuomo. The new law establishes a statewide electronic Vacant and Abandoned Property Registry and requires mortgage lenders to visit and maintain these homes to ensure they do not fall into disrepair or face a stiff fine.
It is estimated that there are 16,000 “zombie” properties in New York State. These homes, vacant and abandoned, can pose serious safety risks to residents living nearby, and often become havens for drug dealers or targets of vandalism. Worse yet, the market value of neighboring homes - and the entire neighborhood - decreases as these properties deteriorate.
“It is time for lenders to take responsibility for their foreclosed and abandoned properties,” said Assemblywoman weinstein “Nobody should have to live in a neighborhood where houses have been left to rot.” Finally, the bill gives the court a clear ability to impose financial sanctions against lenders who do not make good faith efforts to resolve mortgage foreclosure actions. These protections for homeowners, as well as others contained within the bill, should ensure a more level field for the homeowner when the mortgage lender tries to take their home away.
Assemblywoman Weinstein is proud of the victories won in the 2016 budget. This year’s budget is proof of the State’s commitment to the promises made to stand by hardworking families. Highlights include:
Preserving the affordability of higher education: Throughout this budget process, Assemblywoman Weinstein made it a priority to preserve the affordability of higher education. The budget successful freezes tuition at the CUNY and SUNY systems by maintaining full state support for CUNY. The budget also rejects the proposal to shift $485 million of CUNY expenses to NYC, because city families shouldn’t unfairly have to foot the bill for state costs.
Successfully fought back against efforts to shift a greater share of Medicaid costs to the City of New York, a victory for hardworking taxpayers.
Won the longstanding fight to raise the minimum wage across New York to $15 per hour, and provided every worker and every family with the long awaited protection of paid family leave benefits.
Provides $7.3 billion for the MTA’s capital plan. This money will fund more than 900 new train cars and over 1,700 bus and Station improvements, renovations and updated signal systems.
Cuts the middle class tax rate to its lowest level in 70 years:
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The 2016-17 state budget builds on the tax relief delivered in 2012, when the income tax rates were lowered to 6.45 percent for taxpayers in the $40,000-$150,000 income bracket, and to 6.65 percent in the
$150,000-$300,000 income bracket. Going even further, the new budget cuts rates beginning in 2018; dropping them to a low 5.5 percent by 2025.
These new lower tax rates will save middle class New Yorkers nearly $6.6 billion in just the first four years. These are real savings for hard-working New Yorkers.
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The 2016-17 state budget builds on the tax relief delivered in 2012, when the income tax rates were lowered to 6.45 percent for taxpayers in the $40,000-$150,000 income bracket, and to 6.65 percent in the
$150,000-$300,000 income bracket. Going even further, the new budget cuts rates beginning in 2018; dropping them to a low 5.5 percent by 2025.
New York’s utility consumers are currently represented by the Public Service Commission and the Utility Intervention Unit, but neither is designed solely to represent the customer. Assemblywoman Weinstein is trying to change this by establishing the office of the State Utility Consumer Advocate.
In other states where such an office exists, residential consumers have seen drastic savings in comparison to the actual amount of funding that goes to these offices. The creation of an advocate with the powers allotted in this bill would give New York utility customers a voice at the table and hopefully save them a considerable amount of money.
DEP sponsor Rain Barrel Giveaway
Sunday, July 17th, 2016, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
By capturing storm water, the 55 - gallon rain barrels can help you conserve water by storing rainwater for future use, such as watering your lawn or garden.
This will keep your plants healthy–and save you money–since households devote almost 40% of their water to watering lawns and gardens.
One per homeowner,
call Assemblywoman Weinstein’s Community Office
to reserve your rain barrel now.
Is Coming to
Our Neighborhood
You can shred documents containing your personal information, such as bank and social security statements, credit card applications, etc.
Call Assemblywoman Weinstein's Community Office for more information to sign up.
Sponsored by Mount Sinai and Coney Island Hospitals
Members of the Homecrest Senior Center welcomed Assemblywoman Weinstein to their Annual Chinese New Year Celebration.
Assemblywoman Weinstein explained the process of obtaining, using and refilling a half-fare MetroCard to constituents during the MTA’s monthly visit to her office. The MTA Half-Fare bus comes to the office the 3rd Thursday of every month from 10:30am to 12pm.
Upcoming Dates:
July 21st
August 18th
September 15th
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein and Councilman Alan Maisel discuss with members of the PS 194 PTA the adverse effects a proposed Halfway House on Bragg Street would have on the neighborhood and their children
Assemblywoman Weinstein addressed attendees who traveled to celebrate Haitian Unity Day in the State Capitol. Among those participating were Haitian American Assemblymembers Rodneyse Bichotte, Kimberly Jean-Pierre and Michaelle Solages. The celebration was enhanced by the attendance of a Senator from the Southern area of Haiti.
